Keyless entry

Keyless entry is a method of security that does not require a physical key to gain access to the building, property or object being locked. The most common implementations utilize a numeric code or pin for entry, but may also use key cards, RFID chips, thumb print, voice recognition, retinal scan, biometric imaging, or any combination thereof. Modern keyless locks often include an electronic component, but several purely mechanical designs do exist.

While combination locks are a form of keyless entry, they are typically excluded from this category of security if applied to padlocks, safes, vaults, or any lock where the usage of a physical key was never common to begin with. Keyless entry by tradition refers to a switch away from the use of regular keys.